NFL game summary for 12/17/1972:
The Bengals equaled the NFL record with three TD interceptions, two by Lemar Parrish, the other by Neil Craig, in running up their highest score ever. Doug Dressler rushed for three TDs, and Horst Muhlmann kicked four FGs, including a 51-yarder.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 141.8 (14) | 163.9 (11) | 305.7 (12) | 28 |
| DEFENSE | 129.5 (11) | 121.0 (1) | 250.5 (2) | 24 | |
 | OFFENSE | 106.6 (23) | 116.1 (24) | 222.7 (25) | 28 |
| DEFENSE | 187.5 (25) | 150.2 (12) | 337.8 (24) | 24 |
Line: Bengals by 10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals (8-6-0) | 3 | 13 | 17 | 28 | 61 |
| Houston Oilers (1-13-0) | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
( 0- 3) HOU Skip Butler 28 yard field goal ( 3- 3) CIN Horst Muhlmann 46 yard field goal ( 3-10) HOU Fred Willis 13 yard pass from Kent Nix (Skip Butler kick) (10-10) CIN Ken Anderson 3 yard rush (Horst Muhlmann kick) (13-10) CIN Horst Muhlmann 24 yard field goal (16-10) CIN Horst Muhlmann 51 yard field goal (19-10) CIN Horst Muhlmann 32 yard field goal (26-10) CIN Doug Dressler 43 yard rush (Horst Muhlmann kick) (33-10) CIN Doug Dressler 1 yard rush (Horst Muhlmann kick) (40-10) CIN Doug Dressler 20 yard pass from Ken Anderson (Horst Muhlmann kick) (47-10) CIN Lemar Parrish 25 yard interception return (Horst Muhlmann kick) (54-10) CIN Lemar Parrish 33 yard interception return (Horst Muhlmann kick) (61-10) CIN Neal Craig 63 yard interception return (Horst Muhlmann kick) (61-17) HOU Ken Burrough 3 yard pass from Kent Nix (Skip Butler kick)
CIN HOU
First Downs: 24 17
Rushes-yards: 26-153 35-132
Yards/rush: 5.9 3.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 20-27-223-0 17-32-181-5
Sacked-yards: 2-33 2-17
Net pass yards: 190 164
Net yards/pass: 6.6 4.8
Total net yards: 343 296
Total plays: 55 (47% run) 69 (50% run)
Yards/play: 6.2 4.3
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 2-0
Turnovers: 1 5
Penalties-yards: 5-47 9-84
Attendance: 32,428
Passing:
CIN: Ken Anderson, 20 of 27 for 223 yards and 1 TD HOU: Kent Nix, 13 of 22 for 134 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Ed Baker, 4 of 10 for 47 yards (4 int)
Rushing:
CIN: Essex Johnson, 14 for 55 yards; Doug Dressler, 8 for 83 yards and 2 TDs; Ken Anderson, 2 for 11 yards and 1 TD; Jess Phillips, 1 for 2 yards; Reece Morrison, 1 for 2 yards HOU: Fred Willis, 13 for 62 yards; Paul Robinson, 13 for 45 yards; Willie Rodgers, 5 for 15 yards; Kent Nix, 2 for 4 yards; Ed Baker, 1 for 9 yards; Al Johnson, 1 for -3 yards
Receiving:
CIN: Doug Dressler, 5 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Essex Johnson, 5 for 36 yards; Chip Myers, 4 for 50 yards; Bruce Coslet, 3 for 37 yards; Charlie Joiner, 2 for 30 yards; Jess Phillips, 1 for 1 yard HOU: Ken Burrough, 5 for 70 yards and 1 TD; Fred Willis, 5 for 50 yards and 1 TD; Dave Smith, 4 for 26 yards; Alvin Reed, 2 for 20 yards; Rhett Dawson, 1 for 15 yards
Kick returns:
CIN: Bernard Jackson, 1 for 13 yards; Essex Johnson, 1 for 13 yards HOU: Willie Rodgers, 4 for 68 yards; Lewis Jolley, 2 for 60 yards
Punt returns:
CIN: Tommy Casanova, 3 for 39 yards HOU: Ken Houston, 1 for 20 yards
Interceptions:
CIN: Lemar Parrish, 3 for 90 yards and 2 TDs; Neal Craig, 1 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Al Beauchamp, 1 for 8 yards
Punting:
CIN: Dave Lewis, 3 for 124 yards HOU: Dan Pastorini, 6 for 266 yards
Field Goals:
CIN: Horst Muhlmann, 4/4 HOU: Skip Butler, 1/1
CIN: Ken Anderson, 20 of 27 for 223 yards and 1 TD HOU: Kent Nix, 13 of 22 for 134 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Ed Baker, 4 of 10 for 47 yards (4 int)
Rushing:
CIN: Essex Johnson, 14 for 55 yards; Doug Dressler, 8 for 83 yards and 2 TDs; Ken Anderson, 2 for 11 yards and 1 TD; Jess Phillips, 1 for 2 yards; Reece Morrison, 1 for 2 yards HOU: Fred Willis, 13 for 62 yards; Paul Robinson, 13 for 45 yards; Willie Rodgers, 5 for 15 yards; Kent Nix, 2 for 4 yards; Ed Baker, 1 for 9 yards; Al Johnson, 1 for -3 yards
Receiving:
CIN: Doug Dressler, 5 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Essex Johnson, 5 for 36 yards; Chip Myers, 4 for 50 yards; Bruce Coslet, 3 for 37 yards; Charlie Joiner, 2 for 30 yards; Jess Phillips, 1 for 1 yard HOU: Ken Burrough, 5 for 70 yards and 1 TD; Fred Willis, 5 for 50 yards and 1 TD; Dave Smith, 4 for 26 yards; Alvin Reed, 2 for 20 yards; Rhett Dawson, 1 for 15 yards
Kick returns:
CIN: Bernard Jackson, 1 for 13 yards; Essex Johnson, 1 for 13 yards HOU: Willie Rodgers, 4 for 68 yards; Lewis Jolley, 2 for 60 yards
Punt returns:
CIN: Tommy Casanova, 3 for 39 yards HOU: Ken Houston, 1 for 20 yards
Interceptions:
CIN: Lemar Parrish, 3 for 90 yards and 2 TDs; Neal Craig, 1 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Al Beauchamp, 1 for 8 yards
Punting:
CIN: Dave Lewis, 3 for 124 yards HOU: Dan Pastorini, 6 for 266 yards
Field Goals:
CIN: Horst Muhlmann, 4/4 HOU: Skip Butler, 1/1